Students Gain Science Knowledge During Activity-Filled Camp

Date:June 15, 2012

The foamy, smoking brew that flowed from the glass beaker may have looked ominous to the casual observer, but the 45 up-and-coming scientists in the room knew the bubbly substance was safe enough to touch.

"Mad" Rich Maringione of Mad Science of Palm Beach pours bubbles into the hands of science campers as part of a demonstration at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The week-long Science Days at PBA camp wrapped up on Friday.

Several students volunteered to hold the bubbles in their hands as part of an exercise during Science Days, a week-long summer camp for students in kindergarten through sixth grade that wrapped up today at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

The activity was one of a series of hands-on demonstrations to illustrate the chemical properties of dry ice in comparison to water, said Rich Maringione of Mad Science of Palm Beach, a self-proclaimed “mad” scientist who paid a visit to the camp on Thursday.

Janise Tucker, a rising third-grader at Northboro Elementary School, said she enjoyed holding the bubbles. “Once you popped them, you saw steam,” she said.

In addition to chemical experiments, the students explored how fossils are formed, launched water rockets and studied the anatomy of worms and frogs. They also worked in teams to construct working pinball machines out of recycled materials.

“I just like it all,” said Garrett Lewis, 8, a student at Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School.

Emily Bahr, 8, who is home schooled, said she has been interested in science as far back as she can remember. She said the camp does a good job of covering basic concepts.

“Physics is fun,” she said, “but robotics is cool.”

This is the third year of the camp, which is led by Dr. Keysha Bryant, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at PBA. “I think that the students gained a better understanding that science is happening all around us,” Dr. Bryant said.

Other faculty members who participated in the camp were Christine Brooks, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Fred Browning, associate professor of physics; and Dr. Matthew DellaVecchia, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

The camp has received a $5,000 grant from the Staples Foundation, which will be used to provide scholarships for students to attend the 2013 camp.